Monky - banned

By Charlie Summerbell
February 21 2010

With two wins in their last 13 matches, Hartlepool United have taken up a nasty habit – losing. And if they don’t find a way to stop it soon, what was a minor threat of relegation could turn into a distinct possibility. Boss Chris Turner’s theory that Pools are too good to go down looks daft after Huddersfield brushed Pools aside with ease for a 2-0 win at Victoria Park.

The result is made even less palatable by the fact that Town are managed by Lee Clarke, the Geordie turned Mackem who clearly had an identity crisis during his playing days when he was persuaded to wear a t-shirt that poked fun at Sunderland fans while he was actually a player at the Stadium of Light.
But there was no doubting the way his team won on Saturday.
They were easily the better team and this was their ninth game unbeaten after they controlled a bright start by Pools then took control with a penalty in the first half and another goal after the break to kill off home resistance.

There were chances for Pools throughout the game, but it was the same old story as they were allowed to go begging. If they could find more clinical finishing in front of goal, Pools would not be in the trouble they find themselves in now.

It all makes Tuesday’s home game against Carlisle a must-win match for Pools, but they will be without top scorer Andy Monkhouse, who starts a two-match ban after picking up his TENTH yellow cards of the season against Huddersfield.
How a winger manages ten yellow cards in two thirds of a season is a question on he can answer. Getting stuck in is one thing, but TEN yellow cards?

Turner was still positive after the game, saying that Pools matched Town for 60 or 70 minutes after going into the match meaning to have a go.

The fact is, though, matches last 90 minutes and while Pools might have matched Town up to the second goal, they didn’t look as good a team as the visitors and with confidence now at a low ebb, turner badly needs a win to get the season back on track.

If Pools don’t beat Carlisle, for whom Matty Robson is having a great season, it’s going to be just as nervous in the last third of this season as it was a year ago.